Timing mechanism



March 16, 1937. Q OSTENSACKEN 2,073,756

TIMING MECHANISM Filed March 10, 1936 olsmlcr TRUNK 45 I Z71 46 54 1 /CALLED 5754770N 7 SUPERVISOR) RELAY L /NE 5 W/ TCH PRIMARY l olsmlcr PRIMARY SECONDARY ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 16, 1937 TIMING MECHANISM Irving Charles Osten-Sacken, Glen Ridge, 1.,

. Application March 10, 1936, Serial No. 68,135

'10 Claims. (Cl. 179-11) UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs This invention relates to timing mechanisms and particularly to devic'es'of this character used for measuring intervals of conversation in a telephone system to determine thereby the appro- 5 priate charge for the service rendered. The invention is particularly applicable to zone calls where the charges for any overtime period may be different from the rate charges for the initial period.

l 'An object of the invention is to simplify and improve devices used for measuring and indicating intervals of'time to render them more accurate and. reliable in their. operation and to render them capable with only minor changes of i assessing charges according to a variety of requirements with respect to initial and overtime charges.

The timing mechanism of this invention is particularly applicable for use with messageregis- 2o ter service. disclosed in the copending application of F. J. Scudder, Serial No. 68,044, filed March l0, l936.

In its preferred form, the zone timing mechanism has one timing element for measuring the initial period and a second timing element for measuring, any overtime period, each element having electromagnetic means for associating its element with a shaft rotatable at constant speed.

When the calling and called stations have been 30 connected and the called party has answered,

means are provided for engaging said shaft with an initial period timing element appropriate for the zone called. This initial timing element has rotatable cam means for closing a charging cir- 3.3 .cuit the number of times required to secure the proper operation of the calling subscribers message register. Just prior to the completion of the initial period the initial timing element controls the engagement of a rotatable overtime element 40 to said shaft for the measurement of the overtime period. The overtime element has rotatable cam means for closing achargingcircuit leading to the calling subscriber's message register to secure the proper-charging for each overtime pe- 1 riod. A biasing spring may be employed to re store the initial period timing unit to its normal position at the completion of the initial period and similar means may be employed to restore the overtime element to its normal position 50 at; the termination of each overtime period.

' Other features of the invention will appear hereinafter. r Referring to the drawing:

Figure l'is a schematic representation of one 55 form of this invention employed as a zone timing mechanism in a machine switching telephone system; and

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the zone timing mechanism.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2 the tim- 5 ing device comprises a vertical shaft l0 rotating at constant speed on which are mounted a pinrality or spaced discs l i and i2. Suitably mounted adjacent discs ii is an initial clutch magnet 53 the magnetic circuit for which comprises in part the angle piece it and the stationary plate 55. A suitably mounted rotatable shaft i8 has adisc. ll of magnetic material flexibly coupled thereto for angular movement when attracted by the magnet iii. The attraction of disc ill by the magnet serves to bring discs ii and ii into engagement to cause the rotation of shaft it as long as magnet i3 is energized. Shaft it is biased to a definite normal position by a restoring spring is which normally holds pin it on shaft i6 against the stationary stop it. One end of the coiled spring it is fastened to shaft l6 and its other end is fastened to a stationary supporting arm 2i Shaft it also carries a cam ring 22 having two projections 23 for closing twice the charging contacts A shortly after shalt it has been ad= vanced from its normal position by. rotation in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. Another cam ring 24 mounted on shaft 06 has a projection 25 which when the shaft i6 has substantially completed a revolution serves to close spring contacts B. The clutch magnet 03 and shaft 98 with the associated apparatus may'be utilized to measure the initial period of a telephone conversation, assuming that shaft i8 is rotated at such a speed that the initial period is terminated when projection 25 closes contacts B and the --closing of contacts B at the end of the initial period may be employed to deenergize clutch magnet l3 and start the rotation of a similar de- 40 vice for measuring the overtime period; assuming that the telephone' conversation to be timed is stillcontinuing. f f

The overtime period may be measured by the rotation of a shaft 30 associated with shaft in 4.5 in the same manner as shaft i8. Shaft 30 has flexibly mounted on one end thereof a disc 3! of magnetic material whichwhen overtime clutch magnet 32 is energized will be attracted into en-v gagement with disc l2 on shaft Hi to produce the clockwise'rotation of shaft 30 as long as the engagementcontlnues. Shaft 30 is-also biased to I a definite normal position by a coiled spring 33 which norma y will cause pin 34 on shaft .30 to engage the stationary stop 35. One end of spring 33 is fastened to shaft 30 and the other end to the stationary arm 36. Shaft 30 carries two cam rings 31, 38 adapted by projections 39, 40 to operate spring contacts C and D respective- 1y. Cam 3! also carries a laterally projecting pin 4| which when the shaft 30 is in its normal position presses against spring member 42 to keep open the spring contacts E, but it will be obvious that contacts E will be closed as soon as cam 31 has advanced from its normal position.

It should also be noted that there is a pair of contacts F which will be closed when initial clutch magnet I3 is energized and the corresponding contacts G will be closed when overtime clutch magnet 32 is energized.

The manner in which the initial period shaft I6. and the overtime period shaft 30 may be utilized in the measurement of a particular conversation will now'be described in connection with Fig. 1. The various connections and apparatus involved are not completely shown inasmuch as they do not constitute a part of this invention, but for a fuller-description of message register circuits capable of employing the timing mechanism of this invention reference may be made to the above mentioned copending appliand secondary switches of the line switch through a district trunk and a district primary and secondary switch to the called subscribers station 46. A decoder marker (not shown) acting from .40 the oifice code information transmitted to-.it

' selects an idle timing mechanism which is applicable for the zone in whichthe called station exchange is located as will be understood- 'from. the above mentioned Scudder application. 4.5 It may be assumed that the timing mechanism selected is the one in which magnet l3 controls the timing for the initial period and magnet 32 controls the timing for the overtime period. Hence the decoder marker serves to operate a suitable switching mechanism 41 to connect the control conductors 49, 50 of the selected timing mechanism 48 to the conductors 5|, 52 individual to the district trunk utilized in establishing the connection between the calling and called stations.

F It will be noted that the" operation'of switch serves to establish a circuit between armature 53 of clutch magnet l3 and the winding of the calling subscribers message register relay 54 which circuit may be traced from armature 53,

conductors 50, 5|, over the lowest operated contacts of the primary and secondary line switch I cross-points, to the winding of the register relay 54, but relay 54 does not operate atthis time 5 since magnet I3 is deenergized and the contacts F are open. When the called' station answers, the called stationsupervisory relay 55 is operated and'pulls up its armature, thereby establishing a circuit from ground, the front contact 7 relay 55, conductors 52, 49, left inner back contact relay 56, conductor 51 and winding of relay l3 to battery and ground. Thev closing of this-- circuit initiates the measurement of the initial 'period of the conversation by causing clutch 75 magnet i3 to close contacts F and 'to start the rotation of shaft l6 which carries the cam wheels 22, 24. As will be noted from both Figs. 1 and 2 the cam wheel 22 will advance only a small amount from its normal position when projections 23 will cause two successive closures of the charging contacts A. Each time the contacts A- are closed by the clockwise rotation of cam 22 from its normalposition the message register relay 54 is operated by the closure of a circuit which may be traced from battery, left outer back contact relay 56, conductor 56, closed contacts A, closed contacts F, conductors 50, 5|. primary and secondary line switches to winding of register relay 54, so that each closure of con- 49; 52 and front contact supervisory relay 55 to ground. The operation of relay 56 opens the energizing circuit for initial clutch magnet l3 previously traced through the left inner back contact relay 56, and magnet I3 thereupon disengages disc from disc II to permit shaft l6 to be restored to its normal position by restoring spring l8. The return of cam wheel 22 to its normal position again closes charging contacts A but this does not affect the message register since the contacts F are now open.

The operation of relay 56 also initiates the starting of the timing mechanism for measuring the overtime period of the conversation by closing a circuit which may be traced from battery, winding overtime clutch magnet 32, conductor 60, closed contacts R of relay 6| conductor 62,

left inner front contact relay 56, conductors 49.

52, contact supervisory relay 55 to ground. The

energization of clutch magnet 32 closes its contacts G and causes disc 3| to engage disc I2 so as'-to start the clockwise rotation of shaft which carries the cam wheels 31, 38. As soon as projection 39 on cam wheel 3'| has advanced far enough to close the charging contacts C the calling subscribers message register relay ,54 is operated once over a circuit from battery, left outer front contact relay 56, conductor 63, closed contacts G, closed contacts C, conductors 59, 5|,

. the primary and secondary line switches to the The first overtime period will be. completed when cam wheel 38 has rotated a sufllcient extent to permit its projection 49 to close contacts D. The closure offlcontacts D causes relay 6| to operate over a circuit'from battery, winding relay 6| and contacts D to ground. Relay 6| in operating locks up over a circuit from battery, winding relay 61,- contacts T, relay 6|, conductor 64,'closed contacts E, conductors 65, 62, left inner front contact relay 56, conductors 49, 52 and front contact supervisory relay 55 to ground so that relay 6| remains operated as long as contacts E remain closed in spite of thefact that contacts D will be opened againas soon as the restoring movement of shaft 30 has started.

' nova-15c message register relay 54 since contacts G are open during the restoring movement.

If the conversation between the stations continues into a second overtime period with supervisory relay 55 remaining operated the arrangement is such as to start another clockwise rotative movement of shaft 30 to measure this second overtime period. Just prior to the instant shaft 30 has been restored to its normal position by spring 33, pin 4| on cam wheel 31 operates spring 42 to open the contacts E. The opening of contacts E opens the previously traced locking circuit for relay BI and relay 6| in releasing opens contacts T and allows its contacts R to close. The closure of contactsR reestablishes the energizing circuit for magnet 32 and, hence shaft 30' again starts rotating clockwise-to measure the second overtime period. Shortly after its second rotative movement has begun, the charging contacts C are again closed to operate the message register relay 54 to secure the proper charging for the second overtime period. At the expiration of the second overtime period relay v32 will release to allow cam wheels 31, 38 to restore to normal, whereupon magnet 32 will again be energized for measuring the next overtime period, etc.

Whenever the calling subscriber hangs up, switching mechanism not shown herein but disclosed in the above mentioned Scudder application will operate switch It! to disconnect the timing mechanism 48 from the conductors t, 52 to restore the timing mechanism l8 to normal and permit its use for timing a subsequent conversation for which its initial and overtime charging rates are applicable.

It is to be' understood that it is contemplated that there will be available a number or" timing mechanisms similar to mechanism t8 and that suitable means may be provided for selecting an idle timing mechanism for measuring the duration or each zone call; It was also to be understood that there will be other groups of timing mechanisms available for selection, each group having initial and overtime charging rates different from those of mechanism id, which, for

example, makes a doublecharge for an initial period of five minutes and makes a single charge for each overtime period of three minutes. Thus, the timing mechanism indicated schematically by block may comprisemechanism similar to mechanism 38 except that its initial cam wheel corresponding to wheel 22 operates'the calling subscribers messageregister relay six times for an initial period of five minutes by having six projectionsthere'on corresponding to projections 23 and that its overtime. cam wheelcorresponding to wheel 37 operates the calling subscribers message register relay three times for each overtime period or fraction thereof by having three projections corresponding'to projections 39. The decoder marker when it has transmitted to it information showing that a timing mechanism such as mechanism 661s app icable .for the con versation to be measured will cause the operation of switch 41 to connect conductors 5|, 52 A to conductors 61, 68 leading to the charging contacts tor mechanism 86 and to the winding of the clutch magnet which controls the rotation of theinitial period cam wheel.

Still other embodiments of this invention are contemplated commensurate with the scope of the appended claims.,

What is claimed is: r a

l. A timing device for measuring an initial period and an additional period comprising a driving member rotating at a substantially constant speed, a normally disengaged rotatable driven .member, means for biasing said driven member to a normal position, an electroma'gnet for engaging said members at the beginning of said initial period, electrical contacts, means rotatable with said driven member for operating certain of said contacts when said driven member has advanced a predetermined distance from its normal position, a second rotatable driven member normally idle and biased to a normal position, means rotatable with said first driven member and effective when said first driven member has advanced to aposition corresponding substantially to the termination of said initial period for causing said second driven member to be rotated at a substantially constant speed, and means rotatable with said second driven member and efiective when said second driven member has reached a definite advanced position for operating certain of said contacts.

2. In a timing device for measuring an initial period and an additional period, the combination of a driving shaft rotatable at a substantially constant speed, a normally disengaged driven member, an electromagnet for controlling the engagement of said driven member with said shaft, electrical contacts, means responsive to the advance of said driven member through a predetermined distance for closing certain of said contacts, a second driven member normally disengaged from said shaft, means controlled by said first driven member efiective when said first driven member has advanced to a position substantially corresponding tothe termination or said second initial period for causing said seeone? driven member to engage with said shaft, means responsive to the advance of said second driven member through a predetermined distance for closing certain of said contacts and means for biasing said driven members to their normal positions. 1

3. "m a telephone system, mechanism for timing the duration of atelephone connection for rotatable with said driven member for actuating certain of said contacts when said driven member has reached a predetermined advanced position, a second rotatable driven member normally disengaged from said driving member, means effective when said first driven member has advanced to a further position substantially corresponding to the elapse of said initial period for preventing further advancement of said first driven member and for engaging said driving member and said second driven member,

means rotatable with said second driven memher for periodically actuating certain of said contacts at predetermined time intervalsfor the overtime period of said telephone connection, and spring means for biasing each of said driven members to its normal position.

4. In a telephone system, mechanism for timing the duration of a telephone connection for which the subscriber is charged at a certain rate for a given initial period or fraction thereof, and is charged at a different rate for any overtime period, said mechanism comprising a. driving mally disengaged from said driving member,

means efiective when said first driven member has advanced to a further position corresponding substantially to the elapse of said initial period for disengaging said first driven member from and for engaging said second driven member with said driving member, spring means tending to restore each of said driven members to its normal position when disengaged from said driving member, means rotatable with said second driven member for actuating certain of said contacts when said second driven member has reached a predetermined advanced position, and means efiective during an overtime period of sufiicient duration for periodically disengaging said second driven member for said driving member and for reengaging said second driven member with said driving member after said spring means has restored said second :driven member to its normal position.

5. A timing device for measuring the duration of a telephone conversation for which the subscriber is charged at a certain rate for a given initial period and is charged at a difierent rate for an overtime period, said device comprising a driving member, a rotatable driven member, an electromagnet for moving one of said members into engagement with the other of said members to cause said driven member to be rotated through a definite anglebut not beyond said angle, electrical contacts for controlling a subscribers charging circuit, means actuated by said driven member when advanced from its normal position for controlling certain of said contacts, a second rotatable driven member, means under the control of said first driven member for rotating said second driven member at a substantially constant speed eflective after said first driven member has advanced to a definite position,- said second driven member when advanced from its normal position also controlling certain of said contacts.

6. A timing device for measuring the duration of a telephone conversation for which the subscriber is charged at a certain rate for a given initial period and is charged at a different rate for an overtime period, said device comprising a driving member, a driven member normally disengaged therefrom and normally biased to a normal position, an electromagnet for engaging said members, electrical spring contacts, cam means rotatable with said driven member for actuating said contacts after said driven member has advanced from its normal position,

means for causing the disengagement of saidmembers after said driven member has reached a definite advanced position, a second rotatable driven member, a second electromagnet under the control oi said first driven member for engaging said second driven member with said driving membento cause the rotation of said second driven member, other electrical spring contacts, cam means rotatable with said .second driven member for actuating said other contacts after said second driven member has advanced from its normal position, and means for restoring said driven members to their normal positions when said magnets are deenergized.

7. Atiming device for measuring the duration of a telephone conversation for which the sub,- scriber is charged at a certain rate for a given initial period and is charged at a difi'erent rate for an overtime period, said device comprising a driving member, a rotatable driven member normally disengaged from said driving member, spring means for biasing said driven member to a normal position, an electromagnet for engaging said members, electrical contacts for controlling a subscribers charging circuit, cam means rotatable with said driven member for closing certain of said contacts after said driven member has been advanced from its normal position, a second rotatable driven member, spring means for biasing said second driven member to a normal position, a ,second electromagnet for engaging said driving member and second driven member, a normally open energizing'circuit for said second magnet, cam means rotatable with said first driven member for causing the closing of said energizing circuit when said first driven member has reached a definite advanced position and cam means rotatable with said second driven member for closing certain of said contacts after said second driven member has been advanced from its normal position.

8. A timing device for measuring the duration of a telephone conversation for which the subscriber is charged at a' certain rate for a given initial period and is charged at a different rate for an overtime period, said device comprising a driving member, a rotatable driven member normally disengaged from said driving member,

spring means for biasing said driven member to a normal position, an electromagnfet for engaging said members, electrical contactslfor controlling a subscribers charging circuit, cam means rotatable with said driven member for closing certain of said contacts after said driven member has been advanced from its normal position, a second rotatable driven member, spring means for biasing said second driven member to a normal position, a second electromagnet for engaging said second driven member and said driving member, a relay, cam means rotatable with said first driven member for operating said relay to release said first magnet and to energize said second magnet, and cam means rotatable with said second driven member for closing certain of said contacts after said second driven member has reached an advanced position,

9. A timing device for measuring the duration of a telephone conversation for which a subscriber is charged at a certain rate for an overtime period, said device comprising a driving member, a rotatable driven member, spring means for biasing said driven member to -a normal position, an electromagnet for cage-fins a subscriber's charging circuit. cam means rotatable with said driven member for operating certain of said contacts after said driven member has reached an advanced position irom its normal position, a second rotatable driven member, spring means for biasing said second driven member to a normal position, a second electromagnet for engaging said driving member and said second-driven member, a relay, other cam means rotatable with said first driven member for energizing said relay to release said first magnet and operate said second magnet, cam means rotatable with said second driven member ior operating certain of said contacts after said second driven member has reached an advanced position, a second relay, other cam means rotatable with said second driven member for energizing said second relay to release said second electromagnet and still other cam means rotatable with said second driven member for releasing said second relay to reenergize said second magnet when said second driven member has been restored to normal.

10. A timing device for measuring the ,duration or a telephone conversation for which the subscriber is charged at a certain rate for a given initial period and is charged at a difierent rate for an overtime period, said device comprising a driving member. a rotatable driven member, spring means ior biasing said driven member to a normal position. an electromagnet eilective at the beginning or a telephone conversation period for engaging said members, a

second rotatable driven member, spring means- !or biasing said second driven member to a normal position, a second electromagnet for engaging said driving member and said second driven member, normally open electrical spring contacts associated with said first driven member, and adapted to control a subscriber's charging circuit for an initial period, other normally open electrical spring contacts associated with said second driven member and adapted to control a subscriber's charging circuit for an overtime period, a relay, cam means rotatable with said first driven member for closing said first spring contacts after said first driven member has advanced a definite position from normal, other cam means rotatable with said first driven member for energizing said relay to. release said first magnet and energize said second magnet, cam means rotatable with said second driven member for closing said second spring contacts after the advancement of said second driven member from its normal position, a second relay, other cam means rotatable with said second driven member for operating said second relay to release said second magnet after said second driven member has reached an advanced position to permit said second driven member to be restored to normal by its biasing means and still other cam means rotatable with said second driven member for releasing said second relay to reenergize said second magnet.

IRVING CHARLES OS'I'liN-BACKEN. 

